Ashton Irwin Imagines

BGM - Royalty AU

You did not know what sins you had committed to have to endure such pain, but there was not a doubt swimming through your mind that nothing but the divine wrath of the Almighty could've caused such misfortune. Your muscles quivered and you screamed out in agony as another wave of pain ripped through your abdomen, "MERCY! MERCY! PLEASE LORD! MERCY!" You pleaded as you writhed on your birthbed.

"Oh my dearest tulip, this pain you are feeling now, is atonement for a wrong committed long ago. It will not go away or let up, you, like all women before you, must bear it. This is woman's pain," the words of your Mam were never sweetened, not even when you were laboring. You took strange comfort in that, for if she was fretting over you like your ladies you'd surely think this was not your birthbed but deathbed.

Your Mam, or Miss Schmitt to everyone else, had been your primary caretaker from the very moment of your birth. She was your nurse, your nanny, your governess, and later your personal servant but above all, she was your closest confident and second mother. She had raised you from a small squirming thing into a rightful Princess, she had watched you walk down the aisle and then followed you to a wholly unfamiliar kingdom and continued to dutifully serve at your side her maternal advice and harsh lessons that had never really let up even though you were no longer under her care. You loved her deeply, and she was for a long time the only familiar face, voice, and arms, in this strange castle that was now your home. But that was many moons ago.

Now you had come to know many of the servants of the place, along with the nobles of the court and came to love your King and husband Ashton. It was a lucky thing that the two of you ended up compatible, especially since you only had one brief, chaperoned meeting before the nuptials. It had long seemed your life had turned out like one of the stories Mam told you before bed.

Well, until now. The girls in old stories never experience this bitter agony called childbirth, or at least seem none worse off. Perhaps you were just too soft. Mam would probably say so.

"ALAS!" You heaved in breaths like you were doing some tough physical work, "IF THIS IS A WOMAN'S PAIN, WHY DOES IT ONLY OCCUR THROUGH THE TOUCH OF MEN?"

Mam only tutted and dabbed at your brow with a wet rag, "yes men catalyze the creation of life, but it's women who allow it to grow and flourish. Since women are the vessels who take the yoke upon themselves, it's a woman's pain. Besides, men may think themselves tough but they would snap in two under such agonies. Take pride in your strength and the knowledge that soon it will be over and your babe shall be in your arms."

The comfort of Mam calmed your spirit but did little for the pain that was making your body shake with exertion and sweat and struggle underneath it all.

It was a pain so deep and so powerful that it left the younger women frightened, not only for you, but for their own futures. For soon it would be their turn, they would be wives and then mothers dealing with the same thing as you. The woman's pain.

Lillith, one of your ladies, drew forward and took one of your hands in her smaller, gentler ones, "my Queen, soon the people will rejoice for the new Princess will be here and the royal family extended! Remember the festivities at just the announcement you were with child? Imagine how much more grand they will be for the birth! How glad they will all be!"

Now you cared deeply for Lillith, but her words brought you only vague irritation. For you cared little presently about the festivities that will be thrown or the joy of the people. Furthermore, her saying Princess soured your mood further as it meant you'd be having to go through this all at minimum one more time for an heir. Curse the old wives tales that say the early morning twists of your stomach mean it's a girl! You could not even think of allowing this to happen to you again.